COUNCIL TO PILOT NEW ADOPTION REGISTER SCHEME

Stockport Council has been chosen to pilot a scheme which allows people approved to adopt to search the national Adoption Register for the first time.

The Council has been specially selected to pilot the Government scheme which will begin on the 1^st September 2014 and run for nine months. It will allow approved adopters to learn more about the children who are waiting for a loving, stable home.

From this September, they will be able to find out about their hobbies, likes and dislikes, and hear them speak and laugh in videos and pictures to help match children waiting, with their new family.

Opening up the adoption Register is designed to ensure that children are placed more quickly with families who can give them the stability and security they deserve. Strict safeguards will be put in place to ensure the safety and privacy of children and approved adopters. The Adoption Register is currently only used by social workers to find homes for children waiting to be adopted. 

Councillor Wendy Meikle, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Children and Young People, said:

“We are delighted to have been chosen to pilot this new innovative scheme. Allowing parents who are approved to adopt from Stockport to view the videos and pictures whilst keeping in place the strictest safeguards at all times, is a really positive move. It will give approved adopters a far greater role in the whole process, which will help ensure more children are placed with their new family much quicker.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption in Stockport can call the Council’s Adoption Team on 0161 947 4646 or visit www.stockport.gov.uk/adoption

The Adoption Register includes details of children waiting to be adopted and approved prospective adopters referred by adoption agencies, such as further information and pictures of the child. Videos will be available from October.

The Register is run under contract by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering.